Small Paa Frog and Marbled Cascade Frog are not endemic to Nepal: a response
to Tachamo-Shah et al. 2023
Chandramani Aryal 1
1 Department of Environnemental Science, Padma Kanya Multiple
Campus, Tribhuvan University,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
1 Environnent Protection and Study
Center (ENPROSC), M8XP+J6G, Prachin Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal.
Date
of publication: 26 April 2024 (online & print)
Citation:
Aryal, C. (2024). Small Paa Frog and Marbled Cascade
Frog are not endemic to Nepal: a response to Tachamo-Shah
et al. 2023. Journal of Threatened
Taxa 16(4): 25117–25118. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8951.16.4.25117-25118
Copyright:
© Aryal 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Ramaroshan area is one of the prominent biodiversity-rich area
outside the protected area network of Nepal and recently the researches on the
aspect of biodiversity is gradually increasing (Acharaya
et al. 2023; Tachamo-Shah et al. 2023), which is
encouraging. We need baseline information
on the species’ distribution and abundance upon which tailored conservation
measures can be initiated. However, this information should be based on the
facts and evidence. Recently, Tachamo-Shah et al.
2023 have published an article entitled ‘Wetland biodiversity of Ramaroshan Lake complex: a need for conservation’ on JoTT 26 December 2023 issue. Much information in the
article is promising, highlighting the additional attention the area should
receive for conservation. However, there are some aspects, particularly those
related to conservation status and endemism of amphibian species which is misleading, making me to
realize to write this response.
Endemism of species
The authors have mentioned two species of herpetofauna
namely Small Paa Frog Nanorana
minica and Marbled Cascade Frog Amolops marmoratus
as endemic species (Tachamo-Shah et al. 2023).
According to the IUCN Red List Assessment of the Small Paa
Frog, the species is found in Uttar Pardesh
and Arunanchal Pradesh of India and Bhutan (IUCN SSC
Amphibian Specialist Group, 2022) which means they are not endemic to Nepal.
Furthermore, the presence of Amolops marmoratus is mentioned with certainity
for Myanmar only while for other regions the presence has been uncertain (IUCN
SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2023a). Without photographic and other
evidence, it is difficult to ascertain that the species has been identified
properly.
Conservation status of the species
The authors have mentioned the worng
conservation status for amphibian species. For instances, they have mentioned
the Small Paa Frog as globally vulnerable species and
the Indian Bull Frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus as near thretened
species (Tachamo-Shah et al. 2023). The Small Paa Frog is currently listed as the least concerned species
(IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2022). The species was listed as
vulnerable species in previous assessment conducted in 2004. This could be due
to the status being updated recently, possibly after the paper was submitted to
the journal.
In the case of the Indian Bull Frog, the species was
listed as least concerned species in previous assessment and it holds the same
status in the recent assessment as well (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group
2023b).
Other issues
The name of the Liebig’s Paa
Frog is Nanorana liebigii which has been
mentioned as Nanorana leibgii
in the manuscript. Furthermore, despite Ramaroshan’s
potential as site for Red Panda distribution, there is not enough evidence to
support the presence of the species. However, they have failed to provide the
details information about the means of confirmation.
Conclusion
Despite the attempts of the authors to bring the
information on the status of important yet neglected wetland of Western Nepal,
some information on the journal article needs reassessment and verification.
References
Acharaya, R., B. Ghimire, M. Ghimire, Y.B. Poudel, S. Sapkota
& D. Parajuli (2023). Detail Assessment of Biodiversity, Threats and
Human-Wildlife Conflict to Initiate Conservation Intervention in Ramaroshan Lake Complex in Western Nepal. Kathmandu, Nepal.
IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist
Group (2022). Nanorana
minica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2022: e.T58432A166103873. Accessed on 17 April 2024.
IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist
Group (2023a). Amolops marmoratus. IUCN Red List Threat Species 2023
eT47005932A47005936. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T47005932A47005936.en
IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist
Group, (2023b). Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Indian Bullfrog). IUCN Red List Threat Species 2023 e.T58301A53729148. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T58301A53729148.en
Tachamo-Shah ,R.D., D.N. Shah, S.
Sharma, L. Sharma, J.N. Adhikari & D. Rijal (2023). Wetland biodiversity of Ramaroshan Lake complex: a need for conservation. Journal
of Threatened Taxa 15(12): 24299–24320.
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7918.15.12.24299-24320